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Tadious Manyepo-Sports Reporter
BULAWAYO Chiefs midfield linchpin Mthokozisi Msebe says his team need to do more if they are to defend the trophy they won last term.
The Bulawayo team were the surprise winners of the premium knock-out tournament after emerging 1-0 victors in an equally surprising final match-up against Herentals at Barbourfields.
Cup competitions are like that.
And Msebe wants to have yet another taste of victory for the second year running after playing a pivotal role in Bulawayo Chiefs’ fairy-tale run in the contest last season.
But the midfielder and his teammates can dream of going all the way, they have to clear arguably the largest obstacle in the way, in Highlanders. The two Bulawayo teams meet in the first round of the eliminators at Barbourfields tomorrow. Bosso are undefeated in all competitions this year and they will be looking to keep their record intact when they face-off against a team with a new coach in Johanisi Nhumwa.
Highlanders are yet to taste defeat in 18 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League matches and they have already won the Independence Trophy after beating Dynamos on penalties in the final played at Mupfure Stadium in Mt Darwin on Independence Day.
Msebe is well aware of the amount of task his team is coming up against.
“Highlanders are one of the most in-form teams in the world right now. They have played 18 league games and they are still undefeated. They have also won the Independence Cup already. “So in terms of confidence, they are up there as a team. You know confidence is one of the most lethal tools that a team can carry into the pitch,” said Msebe.
“But we are never short on confidence as Bulawayo Chiefs. We started the Chibuku Super Cup campaign on a brighter note last season and we carried the momentum until we were crowned.
“We are carrying the same mentality into this year’s competition as well. Highlanders are still undefeated in the league but that doesn’t mean they will not be defeated at some point.
“We know exactly that our match can’t end in a draw. So we have to be the winners at the end of the day”.
Bosso defender Peter Muduhwa said his team is pumped up for the Chibuku Super Cup. “It’s been long since we won the Chibuku Super Cup. We need to make sure that we win it this year after our last victory in 2019,” he said.
“Bulawayo Chiefs are the defending champions and we are a team in super form. I foresee a very tense game and fans should come in their numbers to witness the super show.
“As Highlanders players, we are ready for the challenge. We are still undefeated this year in every competition we have participated in and we need to keep that record intact on Sunday”.
For last year’s runners-up Herentals, it’s about staying collected starting from their Round-of-16 opener against ZPC Kariba at Mandava tomorrow. Winger Davison Marowa, who is enjoying tremendous form in the pink Students shirt said this is their redemption year.
“We lost the Chibuku Super Cup in a painful manner. That was the final hurdle but Bulawayo Chiefs were smarter. We have recharged our batteries and we are looking forward to having yet another beautiful run in this competition this time around,” said Marowa.
“But we know for sure that we won’t have it our own way. Every team in this competition have their eyes on the prize. ZPC Kariba, whom we play in the first round, are tricky opponents. They have the personnel which can win anything in their ranks.
“That is the reason why we need to take each game as it comes. While we are looking to win the trophy, we have to keep in mind that it’s a long process. We need to get rid of opponents along the way. So our focus is on beating ZPC Kariba first.
“The match will be tough but I am confident if all of us arrive at the party, we can sail through”.
Having shown their capacity to punch equally in the league and even outwitting the giants in the league, new boys GreenFuel will be looking to transform the same form into their maiden campaign in the Chibuku Super Cup tournament.
They face Chicken Inn at Luveve this afternoon. Livewire midfielder Washington Mapuwa said they are in the competition to make a statement.
“You never know with these knock-out competitions. It’s an opportunity for some of us new teams to show who we are,” said Mapuwa, who is one of the most outstanding players in the league.
“Chicken Inn is a big brand but they worked for the brand to grow. We are in the process of making ours grow as well. To this end, we are going all out to win this match against Chicken Inn and see what comes next”.
With their chances of winning the league title getting slimmer by each passing week, Harare giants Dynamos will be hoping to win the Chibuku Super Cup.
They begin life without axed coach Herbert “Jompano” Maruwa in this tournament with a date against Simba Bhora, who are under the stewardship of Maruwa’s predecessor Tonderai Ndiraya at Barbourfields this afternoon.
Maruwa’s former assistant Genesis Mangombe is in interim charge of the Glamour Boys after a somewhat surprising decision by the Dynamos executive to sack Maruwa early this week. Their house is apparently up in smoke with the trigger-happy executive, which has failed to win any silverware over the past seven years, also suspending assistant coach Murape Murape and team manager Richard Chihoro.
And Mangombe will need to effectively psyche up his charges for the Simba Bhora task. One of the tournament favourites Ngezi Platinum Stars host Triangle at Baobab this afternoon while FC Platinum play Yadah at Mandava.
Yadah will be looking at beating the Zvishavane miners in their backyard for the second time in three weeks having outmuscled them in the league with a famous 1-0 win in the league. Black Rhinos had an impressive run in this tournament last season only bowing out to Bulawayo Chiefs in the semi-finals via a penalty lottery.
And they will be out to try and win the trophy this term but first, they have to dump Manica Diamonds in the first round at Gibbo this afternoon.
Chibuku Super Cup Fixtures:
Today:
Ngezi Platinum v Triangle (Baobab)
Manica Diamonds v Black Rhinos (Gibbo)
Chicken Inn v Greenfuel (Luveve)
FC Platinum v Yadah (Mandava)
Dynamos v Simba Bhora (B/F)
Tomorrow:
Highlanders v Bulawayo Chiefs (B/F)
CAPS United v Hwange (Bata)
Herentals v ZPC Kariba (Mandava)
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